Sealing-strip apparatus



E. HUFF.

SEALING STRIP APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1920.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

ELBRIDGE RUFF, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEALING-STRIP AIIPARA'IUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P te ted Aug; 30, 1921.

Application filed September 21, 1920.. Serial No. 411,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBRIDGE HUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somer- Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper-. tains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to sealing strip machines and more particularly to apparatus of this character adapted to deliver any desired length of sealing strip for securing paper parcels and the like.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified machine of this character which shall deliver the desired length of sealing strip freely and without liability of the strip breaking ofi within the container during the severing operation. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of this character in which the free end of the strip may be engaged with facility by the operator. to draw out the desired length of strip for sealing a package.

With these objects in view the various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description. I

The accompanying drawing illustrates a longitudinal section in elevation of a machine embodying the several' features of the invention. 1 a

As .will be ob ious to those skilled in the art machines of this character comprise generally a strip container provided with a throat through which the sealing strip is drawn and with a moistening or adhesive applying device located in proximity thereto for rendering the strip adhesive as it is withdrawn from the container. According to the present invention, the container is provided adjacent the throat or outlet with simple and efiicient mechanism for placing a tension upon the strip which is combined with a strip severing device in a manner to cause a firm clamping of-the strip during the severing operation. The provision of this clamping dev1ce,'co6perating with the strip severing member, not only serves to facilitate the severing operation but avoids pos sibility of the strip being torn off within the container.' The present invention also embodies a stripguide which serves to position the free end of the severed strip conveniently for the operator to engage it.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises generally a cylindrical container 10 having a hinged cover plate 11 through which the roll of sealing strip may be conveniently inserted. The roll of strip is conveniently positioned in the containerby upstanding arms 13 (one of which is shown in the drawing) and between which the roll is loosely en- 'gaged. Cooperating with the cylindrical container is a rectangular base portion 14 which is provided with a liquid receptacle at its front portion. The base portion may preferably be rovided with a fiat weight 16 to steady the evice and to prevent its being readily tipped over. cured to the base portion by a fastening member 17 extending through the bottom of the gui cs 13,. the container, the weight 16 and the base. The receptacle 15 may be filled with water or other liquid to moisten the previously coated sealing strip or adhesive for rendering adhesive an uncoated strip. This receptacle is also provided with a coating roll 18 journaled in the opposite sides of the receptacle and having its lower portion immersed in the liquid and its upper portion in convenient proximity to the sealmg strip as it is withdrawn from the container.

It is desirable, as stated previously, to provide means for clamping the strip at the point atwhich it is withdrawn-from the container and in addition severing the strip after the desired length has been withdrawn and rendered adhesive. To this ,end the hinged cover member 11 is provided upon its front edge with a combined clamping and severing device indicated at 20. This device comprises a bent plate hinged to the edge of the cover at 21 and having a downwardly projecting portion 22 adapted to bear a ainst the wall of the container at 23 and c ampthe sealing strip therebetween, as indicated. In order to place a substantially constant tension upon the sealing strip, the rear face of the plate 22 is engaged by a light spring 24 fastened to the inner side of the cover plate, as indicated. The member 20 in addition to the downwardly projecting por- The container is setion 22 has an outwardly projecting portion 25 provided with a depending severing member 26 hinged upon its front end at 27. The severin member normally stands in the position s own in the drawing above the strip which is being withdrawn from the container and in a convenient position to sever the strip when the latter is elevated into engagement therewith. It will be obvious from the drawing and the accompanying descr1ption that the elevation of the strip into engagement with the severing edge 27 causes an upward pressure to be exerted upon the member 26 tending to turn the member 20 about the hinged axis 21. This movement causes the edge of the plate 22 to bind the sealing strip tightly at the point 23 and eflectually clamp the strip during the severing operation. As soon as the strip is sevv ered the clamping pressure is relieved and the strip is left under a normal light tension permitting its easy withdrawal from the container. A guide member in the form of a bent plate 30 having a substantially horizontal portion 31 is secured to the outer side of the plate 22 and-serves to retain the free end of the severed strip in convenient position for engagement by the operator. In engaging the free end of the strip, the lower end of the severing plate may be swung inwardly about the axis 27 until the fingers of the operator are in position to grasp the strip. This plate, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, prevents the severed strip from curling upwardly into a position in which it would be difficult to grasp it by the operator.

The cover plate is conveniently retained in place by a latch hook 32 hinged at 21, having an inturned portion 33, which engages beneath a projecting lip 34 formed upon the wall of the container. As the container is made of sheet metal there is suflicient flexibility to permit the engagement and disengagement of the latch with the cooperating lip 34 when it is desired to replace the roll of sealing strip in the container.

The present apparatus constitutes a simple and efficient means for serving sealing strips and for severing or cutting these strips when the desired length has been served without liability of the strip breaking inside of the container. The apparatus, furthermore, enables substantially the entire roll of sealing strip to be utilized before its replacement by a new roll, which is an atdevices of this char- 'cific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it will be understood that this construction is not essential exce t so far as specified in the claims, and may changed or modified without, departing from the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is .claimed is:

l. A sealing stri machine comprising a strip container, a c ampin member hinged upon the container and aving a portion adapted to clamp the strip against the wall of the container, and a severin device hinged upon the clamping memiier and adapted to cause an increased clamping pressure when the strip is pressed thereagainst.

2. A sealing strip machine comprising a strip container having a delivery openlng in the front portion, a clamping member hinged in the opening and adapted to clamp the strip against the wall of the container, a severing member hinged upon the clamping member and positioned out of the path of the strip as it is withdrawn from the container, and a guide extending forwardly from the clamping member and adapted to locate the free end of the severed strip in convenient location for the operator.

3. A sealing strip machine comprising a strip container, a cover plate for the con tainer, means for detachably securing the cover plate in place, a clamping member hinged upon the cover plate and having a portionadapted to engage and clamp a sealing strip against'the wall of the container, and a severing device pivotally supported by, the clamplng member. and adapted to move the clamping member into clamping position when the sealing strip is pressed upwardly thereagainst.

4. A sealing strip machine comprising a container having a delivery opening in the front portion, a bent plate hinged in the opening and having a' portion extending downwardly to engage and clamp the sealing strip and a portion extending outwardly, and a depending severing member hinged upon the free end of the outwardly extending portion and adapted to sever the strip when the latter is moved upwardly thereagainst.

ELBRIDGE 

